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Kashmir looks ahead for an impressive tourist season
Srinagar, Dec 28: Kashmir, which registered an impressive 610 per cent increase in tourist arrivals this year, is poised for another good visitors` season with the Centre agreeing to promote the state as the `world winter destination.`
Srinagar, Dec 28: Kashmir, which registered an impressive 610 per cent increase in tourist arrivals this year, is poised for another good visitors' season with the Centre agreeing to promote the state as the "world winter destination."
The Centre is inviting a delegation of reputed international travel operators for a "Kashmir specific" familiarization tour, Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed told reporters.
He said the Central government's efforts to attract foreigners would definitely help in increasing the flow of tourists to the state.
On travel advisories issued by various countries to their nationals against visiting Kashmir, Mufti said, foreign tourists are still arriving despite the advisories and they find the place fascinating and safe.
Mufti said that during his recent visit to London he had taken up the issue with influential Members of Parliament and asked them to withdraw the instructions issued by Britain.
The Chief Minister said his government would formulate a strategy to motivate international tour operators to bring tourist groups to the state.
A core group of travel agents would be set up to monitor the efforts on bringing in tourist groups to the state. Headed by the joint secretary-cum-managing director of the ITDC, Amitab Kant, the group will meet on a regular basis to monitor the efforts in this regard, he said.
Mufti recalled that his government had launched J and K Tourism revival on Christmas last year when about 25 tour operators from the national capital were invited to familiarize with the ground situation.
Mufti said as many as 1,83,706 tourists including 7,977 foreigners visited Kashmir in 2003 registering an increase of 610 per cent. In 2002, a total of 25,881 holiday makers including 2,511 foreigners had visited Kashmir.
Annual Amarnath pilgrimage also registered an increase of 38 per cent. As against 1,10,793 pilgrims who visited Amarnath last year, 1,52,314 devotees paid obeisance this year.
In addition, he said, 28,273 tourists including 15,371 foreigners visited frontier region of Ladakh this year as against 8,013 including 5069 foreigners last year. Bureau Report
He said the Central government's efforts to attract foreigners would definitely help in increasing the flow of tourists to the state.
On travel advisories issued by various countries to their nationals against visiting Kashmir, Mufti said, foreign tourists are still arriving despite the advisories and they find the place fascinating and safe.
Mufti said that during his recent visit to London he had taken up the issue with influential Members of Parliament and asked them to withdraw the instructions issued by Britain.
The Chief Minister said his government would formulate a strategy to motivate international tour operators to bring tourist groups to the state.
A core group of travel agents would be set up to monitor the efforts on bringing in tourist groups to the state. Headed by the joint secretary-cum-managing director of the ITDC, Amitab Kant, the group will meet on a regular basis to monitor the efforts in this regard, he said.
Mufti recalled that his government had launched J and K Tourism revival on Christmas last year when about 25 tour operators from the national capital were invited to familiarize with the ground situation.
Mufti said as many as 1,83,706 tourists including 7,977 foreigners visited Kashmir in 2003 registering an increase of 610 per cent. In 2002, a total of 25,881 holiday makers including 2,511 foreigners had visited Kashmir.
Annual Amarnath pilgrimage also registered an increase of 38 per cent. As against 1,10,793 pilgrims who visited Amarnath last year, 1,52,314 devotees paid obeisance this year.
In addition, he said, 28,273 tourists including 15,371 foreigners visited frontier region of Ladakh this year as against 8,013 including 5069 foreigners last year. Bureau Report